I breathe out, barely able to contain myself. “Thank you.”
It’s nearly ten in the evening when he calls me back. I’ve been sitting by my phone all night, willing it to ring, in between texts to Erin. When the phone rings, I pounce on it. It’s the only time I’ve ever been happy that my father is calling me.
“Where are you?” he asks.
“Paris. Why?”
“Because if you can get to London tonight, I’ve managed to secure you an appointment with a top neurosurgeon. Tomorrow morning is the only possible time, because he flies out to Germany in the afternoon for a conference.”
I nod, determined to make this work. “I’ll make it happen.”
I hang up. There is so much to arrange and no time to do it. I’m overwhelmed at where to start. Up until now, Erin has been in charge of all the travel arrangements. Everything was booked before we even left Australia, and all I had to do was sit back and enjoy the ride. Now it’s up to me to make this happen.
I grab my phone and check the train timetable. There’s a train leaving in two hours that would get us there at one in the morning. The next one gets us there too late. We have to be on that midnight train. I book the tickets, then find accommodation near the hospital where the appointment is going to be. With that out of the way, I quickly pack our bags and carry them down to reception.
“Leaving so soon? The room you are not happy with?” The manager steps out from around the desk, his expression concerned.
“The room was great, but we have to get to London,” I explain. “There is a chance we might have found someone who will operate.”
“Ah, that is wonderful news. I hope it goes well. You are a good man, she is lucky to have you.”
Embarrassed by his praise, I thank him, then head in search of a taxi.
The first taxi I hail ignores me, so when the second approaches I block his path, leaving him no option but to stop. I load my luggage and then sink into the backseat and direct him to get me to the hospital as quick as possible. He gets me there in record time so I tip him well, then race to Erin’s room. I’m fully aware that we’re running out of time.
“Quick,” I direct her. “Get dressed. We have to go.”
“What you mean we have to go? What you talking about? It’s eleven o’clock at night. You told me I need to stay the night, remember?” She’s irritable, no doubt from lack of sleep and feeling like crap, and apparently in the mood to argue.
“Yeah, well, things have changed. We have to go to the London now.”
“London?” she repeats, bewildered. “Are you insane?”
“Probably. I’ll explain on the way—just trust me, okay?”
To my surprise, she does what I ask.
“Get packed and I’ll arrange the discharge papers.”
They’re not happy about her going, especially at this time of night, but I pull the doctor aside and explain to him why this needs to happen tonight. He puts a rush on her discharge, and within the hour we are walking off the hospital grounds. I glance at my phone. We are actually going to do this.
“Now will you tell me what the hell is going on?” Erin exclaims, a hint of annoyance seeping through.
“I’ve got you an appointment with a top neurosurgeon in London, tomorrow morning. He can’t promise anything, other than he is willing to meet with you and look over your scans.”
“Are you serious?” She stops, her expression unreadable. “And you did all this without asking me first?”
“Because I didn’t want to get your hopes up. I didn’t want to tell you and then get this far and have my father not be able to come through.”
“You called your father?” she repeats, amazed. After everything I’ve told her about my family, she knows what a big deal that is.
“I told you, I’d do anything for you.”
She sleeps most of the train ride over, snuggled up against me, her head nestled on my shoulder. I stay awake, staring out the window into nothingness, replaying the conversation with my father in my head.
I shouldn’t have confronted him like that. I never thought I’d say it, but I think I pushed him too far. Who knows, maybe I’m being too harsh on him. It had to be hard on him, raising another man’s child—not th
at it excuses the way he treated me growing up.